The President’s Secretariat has announced that Secretary to President Waqar Ahmed is no longer required and has requested a replacement. This decision comes one day after President Dr. Arif Alvi accused his staff of undermining his authority regarding his assent to the Official Secrets Act and the Pakistan Army Act.
In an official statement on the President of Pakistan’s twitter account, the President’s Secretariat stated, “In view of the definite statement of yesterday, President’s Secretariat has written a letter to Principal Secretary to Prime Minister that the services of Mr. Waqar Ahmed, Secretary to President, are no more required and are surrendered to the Establishment Division, immediately. It has also been desired that Ms. Humaira Ahmed, a BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, may be posted as Secretary to the President.”
President Alvi’s recent claims have caused controversy, as he stated that he did not personally sign two disputed pieces of legislation, the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill 2023 and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2023. These bills had been approved by the Senate and the National Assembly and were sent to the President for his approval. However, President Alvi now asserts that his staff interfered with his directives.
Babar Awan, a leader of the PTI, has called on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to take notice of President Alvi’s allegations. Awan argues that the President’s claims are credible and trustworthy, as the President is the head of state and a part of Parliament. He also points out that interfering with the implementation of a law is a serious crime and could be considered constitutional insubordination.
President Alvi’s statements have sparked a flurry of claims and counter-claims, leading to a press conference by caretaker ministers for law and information as well as criticism from the former ruling party, PTI.
In response to President Alvi’s allegations, a gazette notification issued by the Senate Secretariat stated that the two bills were deemed to have been assented by the President. The Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill 2023 introduces a new offence of unauthorized disclosure of identities, while the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2023 grants more powers to the army chief and imposes restrictions on ex-servicemen in politics.
President Alvi’s statement comes after the PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi was detained in relation to an FIR filed against Imran Khan and himself under the Official Secrets Act. The case was registered after a diplomatic cable, which had reportedly gone missing, was published by an American news outlet. Imran Khan claims he was ousted from office last year due to a US conspiracy.
As the situation unfolds, the President’s Secretariat seeks to replace Secretary Waqar Ahmed while addressing the allegations made by President Alvi. The fate of the bills will be decided after general elections when a new National Assembly is in place.